Mountain fire breaks out in northern Seoul; main blaze contained

This photo, provided by a Yonhap reader, captures a fire on Mount Surak, in Seoul's northeastern Nowon District, Sunday. Yonhap

A fire broke out on a mountain in Seoul's northeastern Nowon District on Sunday, prompting authorities to issue an alert advising residents to stay away from the area.

The fire occurred at around 8:40 p.m. on Mount Surak behind a community sports center in Sanggye-dong and some 109 firefighters and 30 vehicles had been sent to the site to bring the blaze under control, officials said.

They contained the main blaze by 9:52 p.m.

Details about any damage were not immediately known, including reports of casualties.

The Nowon district said it sent an alert message to all residents in the area advising them against approaching the fire site and to take safety measures, such as closing the windows.

Mount Surak extends from the Nowon district to the cities in the surrounding Gyeonggi Province, north of Seoul.